Marker for optical mark response forms

ABSTRACT

A writing instrument is disclosed that can enhance the speed and accuracy for a respondent using an optical machine response form. This writing instrument includes at least two reservoirs for dispensing two independent fluids with different optical reflectivity, whereby an application of the second fluid on top of a layer marked with the first fluid of the response form, modifies the digital response from the optical machine.

TECHNICAL FIELD

One embodiment of this invention relates to writing instruments, andmore particularly to a marker for optical mark response forms.

BACKGROUND

Optical Mark Response (OMR) forms are used for such things asstandardized tests, games or contests, such as the lottery or keno,surveys, and digital database entry. Some examples of digital databaseentry forms include government forms, such as used in voting, as well asforms used by the medical and insurance industries for data collection.OMR machines are calibrated to read responses on OMR forms as positiveresponses if marks are non-reflective and negative if marks arereflective. The benefits of OMR scanning is the speed over manual dataentry, the accuracy from eliminating potential human error, and the costsavings resulting from reducing administrative staff and reducing thetime needed to collect data in the business cycle.

Currently, number two pencils are the standard writing instruments onOMR response forms. An OMR reader relies upon the reflective andnon-reflective nature of the written trace. For example, an OMR readermay rely on the fact that the paper is reflective for incident lightwhile the lead from the pencil is non-reflective. In this manner, thereader can distinguish the place where the paper has been marked.

Besides pencils, other writing instruments are known in the art. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,122 discloses a writing instrument thatincludes a tubular, ink-impermeable body portion containing a pluralityof reservoirs that are housed adjacent to each other, wherein eachreservoir is separated from an adjacent reservoir by a reservoirbarrier. A multi-sectioned nib is disposed at one end of the writinginstrument. The nib includes a plurality of nib sections disposedadjacent to each other and separated from an adjacent nib section by anib section barrier at a writing end, such that the nib sections do notcommunicate materials contained therein between adjacent nib sections.The opposite ends of the nib section are spaced from each other anddisposed within the tubular body portion such that each nib section isdisposed in communication with a different reservoir.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,352 discloses a ballpoint pen including a tip bodymade of metal having a front edge part and a plurality of inwardprotrusions. A ball is rotatably embraced between the front edge partand the inward protrusions. A rod part urges the ball forwardly andbrings the ball into close contact with the inner surface of the frontedge part. Ink outflow gaps are formed each between the adjacent inwardprotrusions.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,070,352 discloses a writing implement that includes acylindrical shaft member. A pen tip member is fixed to one end of theshaft member. Colored ink seeps out of the pen tip member. Liquid, suchas ink, is stored in the shaft member.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,091 discloses a pen that includes a housing. A firstreservoir inside the housing is configured to contain a first fluid. Thefirst reservoir includes a first opening configured to dispense thefirst fluid. A second reservoir inside the housing is configured tocontain a second fluid. The second reservoir includes a second openingconfigured to dispense the second fluid. A first writing tip extendingfrom the housing is configured to dispense a substantially homogeneouslymixed fluid to a writing surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,287 describes a multi-color marking implement havinga number of flat-faced, adjacent marking nibs communicating with aplurality of nib-wicks, containing inks of different colors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a writing instrument thatcan enhance the speed and accuracy for a respondent using an OMR form.In various examples, this writing instrument can be used for testtaking, lottery, keno, surveys, and any other information-gatheringitems such as in digital database entry. Some examples of digital dataentry forms include, government forms, such as in voting, as well asother data entry as used in the medical and insurance industries.

In a further aspect, the writing instrument's trace changes thereflective and non-reflective nature of the selected response areas ofthe response form. Hence the instrument changes the reading from an OMRreader that relies on optical reflectivity of the paper. Preferably, thetip of the writing instrument has a shape that corresponds to the answerareas (e.g., “bubbles”) of the form.

An aspect of the writing instrument is its ability to write or mark withfluids of multiple optical reflectivities. In a particular embodiment,the writing instrument writes or marks with fluids having two differentoptical reflectivities. This is accomplished by the inclusion of twoindependent, optically (e.g., reflectively) different fluids. The twofluids are contained in their respective reservoirs and flow out viadifferent tips without mixing. For example, the application of a coatingof the second fluid on a surface coated with the first fluid results inan increased optical reflectance of the surface. In particular, whenoptically scanned, this increased optical reflectivity translates to amachine reading the form, opposite to that obtained after theapplication of the first fluid marker. Both fluids are quick drying toenable fast application of overcoats (and still referred to as fluids intheir dried state). Accordingly, the use of this pen results inincreased speed and accuracy for a respondent using an OMR form.

One use of embodiments of the current invention involves a method ofconducting a test by providing test questions to a plurality of testtakers. The test takers are provided answer sheets having a plurality ofanswer areas. In this embodiment, at least some of the answer sheetscontain answers marked with both reflecting and non-reflecting fluids.The answer sheets are subsequently evaluated using an optical readingapparatus.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1, which includes FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, illustrates an embodiment ofpresent invention;

FIGS. 2 a-2 g illustrate the possible shapes of response areas and or across-sectional view of the tip ends of the writing instrument;

FIG. 3 is a preferred embodiment of present invention;

FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of the present invention using adifferent tip member design;

FIG. 5 is another alternate embodiment of the present invention with adifferent reservoir design;

FIGS. 6 a-6 c are alternate embodiments of the present invention,whereby the two tip ends are placed at different locations on thewriting instrument; and

FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of the present invention using adifferent tip member design for the first and second tip member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The making and using of the presently preferred embodiments arediscussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that thepresent invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that canbe embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to makeand use the invention, and do not limit the scope of the invention.

The present invention will be described with respect to preferredembodiments in a specific context, namely a writing instrument foroptical marker response forms. The invention may also be applied,however, to other applications that require machine scanning of data.Similarly, although the present invention relates to the modulation ofoptical property of a surface (such as a response form) for an opticalsensor, the invention can also be applied to other types of sensors.

One use of aspects of the present invention will be described withrespect to a specific embodiment, namely optical mark response formsused in a testing environment. In one aspect, the present inventionprovides a writing instrument where the writing tip is formed in a shapethat matches a corresponding optical mark response form. As will bediscussed further below, the invention can also be used in a widevariety of other contexts.

Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions, theconditions for administering scoring procedures, and the interpretationsare consistent and are administered and scored in a predetermined,standard manner. “Standardized” tests use the same standards to measurestudent performance across a region such as a school, school district,state, or country as examples. Everyone takes the same test according tothe same rules. This scheme makes it possible to measure each student'sperformance against that of others.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a writing instrumentthat can be used with a standardized (or non-standardized) test, or forthat matter, any other OMR form. As will be described in the preferredembodiment, the writing instrument is capable of using two types offluids (such as ink). Conceptually, these two fluids can be used to“mark” or “erase” the previously marked response portions of the forms.

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b illustrate the functional embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 1 a shows an OMR form 100. The OMR form 100 contains aplurality of response areas 101. Each response area 101 of the form hasan associated shape and area. FIG. 1 a also illustrates the maximumdiameter (d) of the response area 101 and the distance (p) between thecenter points of the response areas.

The OMR reader measures the optical reflectivity of this response area101 to determine the user response.

FIG. 1 b illustrates the functional relationships of the elementsencased in the writing instrument 110. As will be discussed below, thephysical configuration can take on many forms. A first reservoir 111 forthe first fluid 112 is functionally connected to the first tip member115 of the writing instrument 100. This connection is made via theconnecting tube 113, which can serve to regulate the amount of fluidreaching the first tip member 115. This first fluid 112 can be appliedor coated onto a surface of a response form using the first tip memberend 114. A calibrated OMR machine conclusively identifies the portion ofthe surface on the response form that has been coated.

Similarly, a second reservoir 121 for the second fluid 122 isfunctionally connected to the second tip member 125 via the connectingtube 123. The two liquids are chosen to have different opticalreflectivities when dried upon a response form 100. The second fluid122, if applied on to a response form 100 already marked with the firstfluid 112, modifies the optical reflectivity of the response area.Subsequently, the calibrated OMR machine again conclusively identifiesthe surface of the response form 100 coated with second fluid 122applied on to a response form 100 already marked with the first fluid112. However, the identified response of the OMR machine is opposite tothe response of an area marked by the first fluid 112.

In one specific example, the first fluid 112 has an optical reflectivitysuch that it is non-reflective when applied to the response area 101 ofthe form 100. However, the second fluid 122 increases the reflectivityof the response area 101 when applied over a surface coated with thefirst fluid 112. In some cases, the second fluid 122 may decrease thereflectivity of the response area 101 when applied over the first fluid112.

The physical properties of the fluids (such as viscosity, specificgravity, and acidity) are selected to work with the given flow system.The optical property of the fluids 112 and 122 may be obtained by theaddition of an appropriate colorant to a suitable solvent. The solventin the fluids 112 and 122 could be either water, oil, alcohol or anysuitable liquid. Besides the colorant, the fluids 112 and 122 may alsocontain other additives such as resins, surface tension modifiers,viscosity modifiers, pH modifiers, humectants, biocides, or othersuitable additives. An example of the first fluid 112 is a black ink. IJBK 68 produced by OCP GmbH is one specific example of the first blackfluid. IJ BK 68 consists of water (75-80%), glycerin (approximately 5%),solvents (0.5-2%), alcoholic mixtures (5-8%), water soluble dyes,modifiers, and auxiliaries (tensides). An example of the second fluid122 is a white ink. This white ink is preferably intense enough to coverthe first fluid 112 while drying quickly enough to write over again withthe non-reflective liquid. As an alternative, a correction fluid, suchas used with Wite-Out™ or Liquid Paper™, could be used.

The size and shape of the reservoir can be matched to maximize userperformance and usage. For example, if more use of the first fluid 112is anticipated than the second fluid 122 (as it would be in most cases),the volume of the first reservoir 111 can be made larger relative to thesecond reservoir 121. Similarly, the shapes of the reservoirs 111 and121 and the housing 120 in FIG. 3 can be adapted for performance andcomfort and/or style. Hence, they may be cubical, spherical,cylindrical, pyramidal, or any suitable shape.

The size and shape of the ends of both the first tip member end 114 andsecond tip member end 124 preferably correspond to the associated shapeand area of the response area 101 of the OMR form 100. In general, theseshapes can be any closed shape. Several examples are illustrated FIGS. 2a-2 g. In these figures, the ends of the tip members could be a circle130, an oval 131, a square 132, a diamond 133, a rectangle 134, atrapezoid 135, a triangle 136, or any other preferred shape. In thespecific example of FIG. 1 b, the tip member ends 114 and 124 and theassociated response area 101 corresponds to a circle 130. In someembodiments, the shape of the second tip member 125 may be differentfrom the first tip member 115. For example the second tip member end 124may be an oblong or oval shaped whereas, the first tip member end 114may be circular.

The size of the first and second tip member ends 114 and 124 in relationto the size of the response area 101 is described referring to FIG. 1 a.In preferred embodiments, the first tip member end 114 is larger thanthe size of the response surface area 101. In the preferred embodiment,the maximum diameter (W) of the first tip member end 114 varies fromabout the maximum diameter (d) of the response area 101 to about thedistance between the response areas (p) or d<W<p. Typically, the maximumdiameter W of the first tip member end 114 is about half the sum of themaximum diameter (d) and distance between the response area (p) orW=(d+p)/2. In some embodiments, the first tip member end 114 may beabout 1% to 10% larger than the size of the response surface area 101.

The second tip member end 124 may be larger than the first tip memberend 114 to enable faster erase times. Preferably, the maximum diameter(E) of the second tip member end 124 varies from about the maximumdiameter (d) of the response area 101 to about the distance given by theexpression 2p−d or in other words d<E<2p−d. Preferably, the maximumdiameter E of the second tip member end 124 is about the distancebetween the response area (p) or E=p.

If the distance p between the center points of response areas 101 on theform 100 is not symmetric, i.e., adjacent response areas 101 in thehorizontal direction are separated a first distance p_(x) and adjacentresponse areas in the vertical direction are separated by a seconddistance p_(y), the expressions for the first tip member end 114 and thesecond tip member end 124 may be suitably modified. For example, themaximum diameter E of the second tip member end 124 in such anembodiment would preferably follow the expressions d<E<2p_(x)−d andE<2p_(y)−d.

In different embodiments, the second tip member end 124 may be about 1%to 10% larger than the first tip member end 114. In a particularexample, the second tip member end 124 is 10% larger than the first tipmember end 114. Further, the ratio of the cross-sectional sizes of thetip ends 114 and 124 to the size of the response area 101 is selected tominimize the correction time. Hence, this ratio may be around 1.0 to1.1. However, this ratio of the cross-sectional size of the tip ends 114and 124 to the size of the response area 101 maybe also be between 0.9to 1 and 1.1 to 1.

The second tip member end 124 may also be smaller than the first tipmember end 114. This may be introduced, for instance to avoid accidentalerasure of marked adjacent response areas. In such instances, forexample, the second tip member end 124 may be about 1% to 10% smallerthan the first tip member end 114.

A user applies this preferred embodiment, by using the first tip memberend 114 to “mark” positive responses and the second tip member end 124to “erase” previously marked responses.

In a preferred use of the invention, a test taker uses the writinginstrument 110 to answer responses to a test whose answer sheet orresponse form has multiple response areas 101 as in form 100. The testtaker fills the response area or answer area 101 with the writinginstrument 110. The test taker uses the first tip member end 114 torecord positive responses. If an undesired response is erroneouslyentered e.g., the test taker changes her mind, the test taker appliesthe second tip member end 124 and coats or applies a second layer usingthe second fluid 122 on the response area 101. This procedure cancontinue until the OMR form 100 is completed.

The completed response form 100 is then scanned using an OMR machinethat only identifies the first fluid 112 layer as positive responses.The response areas coated with the second layer using the second fluid122 do not record a positive response during the machine scan.

While described here with respect to test takers, it is understood thatthe concepts apply equally to other response forms used in places suchas in games or contests (for example lottery or keno), digital databaseentry (for example, government forms such as in voting, as well as otherdata entry as in the medical and insurance industries and surveys).

In one aspect of using the current invention, at least one response form100 (for example, answer sheet) in a test is marked with a reflectivefluid but none of the answer areas 101 are marked with a non-reflectivefluid. Similarly, some of the answer areas being marked with areflective fluid may comprise answer areas marked with a reflectivefluid that overlies a non-reflective fluid. In some cases, some testtakers may use a normal pencil to mark the response. The provided answersheet could either be a test form, a standardized test form, a lotteryform, a game form, a survey form, a database entry form such as used invoting, gathering medical or insurance information, or any otheroptically scanned form.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a writing instrument120 that can use aspects of the invention. In this case, both thereservoirs 111 and 121 are located inside a housing 120, which may bemade of a plastic or any other suitable material. In this specificexample, the tip members 115 and 125 of the first and second members arelocated at opposite ends of the housing 120 and made of the same type oftip member. The tip members 115 and 125 are supported by ferrules 116and 126. In the preferred embodiment, the fluid connectors 113 and 123and the tip members 115 and 125 are made of a wick (such as a fibrousmaterial) to regulate the flow of the fluid. The wick may be made of afibrous material or any suitable material. Examples of the fibrousmaterial include polyester, nylon, and polyolefin such as polypropyleneor any other suitable polymeric material. In this preferred embodiment,the volume of the reservoir 121 is less than half, e.g., between about20% to about 50%, of the volume of the reservoir 111. However, in somecases, this ratio could be suitably adjusted to user utilization andneeds. Although in the preferred embodiment, only a part of thereservoirs 111 and 121 are filled with the wicking material, in someembodiments all of the reservoirs 111 and 121 may be filled with thewicking material.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the writing instrument120 using a different tip member design. The tip members 115 and 125 inthis example consist of nibs, while the fluid connectors 113 and 123 aremade of small capillaries that regulate fluid flow. However, manyvariations in the tip member design are possible. In other embodimentsof the present invention, the tip members 115 and 125 could also be astamp, a roller ball, a wick, a felt tip end, a sponge, tape, or anyother tip member. Accordingly, the various functional elements aremodified to ensure a working writing instrument. The fluid connectors113 and 123, reservoirs 111 and 121, and the fluids 112 and 122 wouldaccordingly be modified to ensure a uniform and reliable fluid flow. Avalve may be included as part of the fluid connectors 113 and 123 toregulate the flow of fluid through the tip members.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, the first and second tip members(115 and 125) are made of the same type of tip member. However, inalternate embodiments, the first and second tip members 115 and 125 maybe made of different tip members. In a specific example, the first tipmember 115 may be a nib whereas the second tip member 125 may be a wick.

In alternate embodiments, the locations of individual elements can bealtered. In the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, the reservoirs 111 and 121were located in the respective upper and lower halves of the housing.The reservoirs 111 and 121 can however also be separated along thelength of the writing instrument 120 as shown in FIG. 5.

In alternative embodiments shown in FIG. 6 a-6 c, the tip members 115and 125 can also be located at an angle to each other (FIG. 6 a), on thesame side of the housing 120 (FIG. 6 b), or perpendicular to each other(FIG. 6 c). Various modifications to the locations of the tip members115 and 125 and housing 120 are possible to improve comfort whilemaintaining speed and accuracy of the writing instrument.

In yet another embodiment of the current invention, the first tip member115 is a pencil and the second tip member 125 is a pen. FIG. 7illustrates a specific example, where the first tip member 115 is agraphite pencil lead whereas the second tip member 125 is a marker pen.The test taker uses the mechanical pencil 115 to mark positive responsesin an OMR form 100. The marker pen 125 with the second fluid 122 erasesthe responses marked by the mechanical pencil 115 on the OMR form 100.

Other modifications and variations are also possible. For example, thetips can be removable with their fluid chambers attached to the tip. Inanother example, the tips can be released from the housing by the push(or click) of a movable member.

While this invention has been described with reference to illustrativeembodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in alimiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of theillustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention,will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to thedescription. It is therefore intended that the appended claims encompassany such modifications or embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing input to a machine readableform, the method comprising: providing a writing instrument having afirst fluid dispensing portion and a second fluid dispensing portion,the first fluid dispensing portion having a first size and shape and thesecond fluid dispensing portion having a second size and shape;providing the machine readable form that includes a plurality ofresponse areas, each response area having a third size and shape thatcorresponds with the first size and shape and the second size and shape;using the first fluid dispensing portion to mark a first response areaof the machine readable form; using the first fluid dispensing portionto mark a second response area of the machine readable form; after usingthe first fluid dispensing portion to mark the second response area,using the second fluid dispensing portion to mark the second responsearea of the machine readable form; and reading the machine readable formusing an optical apparatus, wherein a result of reading the firstresponse area is different than a result of reading the second responsearea.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein reading the machine readableform comprises determining that the first response area is lessreflective than the second response area.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the second size is larger than the first size.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the first size is larger than the third size.
 5. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the first shape is the same as the secondshape and also the same as the third shape.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the first shape is the same as the second shape and also thesame as the third shape.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein using thefirst fluid dispensing portion to mark a first response area comprisesstamping the first response area.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising providing a request form, wherein the response areas of themachine readable form are marked by a user in response to informationprovided on the request form.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein therequest form comprises a test and wherein the response areas compriseanswer areas.
 10. A method of administering a test, the methodcomprising: providing test questions to a plurality of test takers;providing an answer sheet to each of the test takers, the answer sheetcomprising a machine-readable form having a plurality of answer areaswhere the test takers can provide answers in response to the testquestions; receiving the answer sheet from each test taker, at leastsome of the answer sheets having ones of the answer areas marked by thetest taker with a non-reflective fluid and also having other ones of theanswer areas being marked by the test taker with a reflective fluid,wherein the received answer sheet includes answer areas marked with thenon-reflective and the reflective fluid that were not marked in theprovided answer sheet; and for each answer sheet received from the testtaker, determining answers provided by the test taker using an opticalreading apparatus to optically read the machine-readable form.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein receiving the answer sheet from each testtaker further comprises receiving an other answer sheet that isdifferent than the at least some of the answer sheets, the other answersheet having answer areas marked by a pencil.
 12. The method of claim10, wherein receiving the answer sheet from each test taker furthercomprises receiving an other answer sheet that is different than the atleast some of the answer sheets, the other answer sheet being markedwith the reflective fluid but having no answer areas marked with thenon-reflective fluid.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein at least someof the answer areas being marked with the reflective fluid compriseanswer areas marked with the reflective fluid that overlies thenon-reflective fluid.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein providing testquestions to the plurality of test takers comprises providing the testquestions to some of the plurality of test takers located at a firstlocation and also providing the test questions to others of theplurality of test takers located at a second location remote from thefirst location.
 15. A method of providing input to a machine readableform, the method comprising: providing a machine readable response formthat includes a plurality of response areas; providing a writinginstrument comprising a first reservoir for dispensing a first fluidhaving a first property of reflectivity; a first tip member in fluidconnection with the first reservoir, the first tip member having an endwith a size and shape that corresponds to the response areas of theresponse form; a second reservoir for dispensing a second fluid, thesecond fluid capable of modifying the first property of reflectivitywhen covering the first fluid; and a second tip member in fluidconnection with the second reservoir, the second tip member having anend with a size and shape that corresponds to the response areas of theresponse form; and stamping a first response area of the machinereadable form using the first tip member thereby marking the firstresponse area with the first fluid; stamping a second response area ofthe machine readable form using the first tip member thereby marking thesecond response area with the first fluid; stamping the first responsearea of the machine readable form using the second tip member therebymarking the first response area with the second fluid so that the secondfluid covers the first fluid; and reading the machine readable formafter the form has been stamped with the first and second fluids of thewriting instrument, the reading being performed using an opticalapparatus, wherein a result of reading the first response area isdifferent than a result of reading the second response area.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the end of the second tip member is largerthan the end of the first tip member.
 17. The method of claim 15,wherein the first fluid is dispensed from the first reservoir to thefirst tip member by a wicking function.
 18. The method of claim 15,wherein the first reservoir is at least twice the size of the secondreservoir.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first tip member andthe second tip member are a same type of tip member.
 20. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the first tip member includes a stamp.
 21. The methodof claim 15, wherein the first tip member includes a nib.
 22. The methodof claim 15, wherein the first tip member includes a felt tip end. 23.The method of claim 15, wherein the second tip member includes a sponge.24. The method of claim 15, wherein the writing instrument furthercomprises a housing, wherein the first reservoir and the secondreservoir are located in the housing, the first tip member being locatedat a first end of the housing the second tip member being located anopposed second end of the housing.
 25. The method of claim 15, whereinthe writing instrument further comprises a housing, wherein the firstreservoir and the second reservoir are located in the housing, the firsttip member and the second tip member both being located at one end ofthe housing.
 26. The method of claim 15, wherein the end of the firsttip member comprises a substantially circular-shaped end and the end ofthe second tip member comprises a substantially circular-shaped.
 27. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the end of the first tip member comprises asubstantially rectangular-shaped end and the end of the second tipmember comprises a substantially rectangular-shaped end.
 28. The methodof claim 15, wherein the end of the first tip member comprises asubstantially oval-shaped end and the end of the second tip membercomprises a substantially oval-shaped end.
 29. The method of claim 15,wherein the first property of reflectivity comprises a non-reflectiveproperty such that the first fluid is non-reflective when applied to theresponse area of the response form and the second fluid increases thefirst property of reflectivity of the response area when applied overthe first fluid.
 30. The method of claim 15, wherein the end of thefirst tip member has a cross-sectional shape that is the same as a shapeof each response area of the response form.
 31. The method of claim 15,wherein the end of the first tip member has a cross-sectional size andeach response area has a response size, wherein a ratio of thecross-sectional size to the response area size is between 1 to 1 and 1.1to
 1. 32. The method of claim 15, wherein the response form comprises atest form.
 33. The method of claim 15, wherein the response formcomprises a form selected from the group consisting of a digitaldatabase entry form, a game form, a lottery form, a voting form, and asurvey form.